Laurie Gardiner

Laurie J. Gardiner, a Texas native and Oakwood University Alum, received her MFA from the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts. She is a Writer, Director and Musician who creates musically driven dramas for Film and Television and has a strong desire to transform the hearts of many through the intersection of film and music. In 2019, Gardiner placed as a semifinalist in the Academy Nicholl Fellowships for Screenwriters competition and in 2020, she placed as a finalist in the ScreenCraft Film Fund competition. Her short drama screenplay also made the Red List on Coverfly and was rated one of the top 10 drama screenplays for eight (8) months. She has worked on numerous student/independent films, which have gone on to screen at prestigious film festivals such as the LA Film Festival, New Orleans Festival and the Oscar Qualifying Cleveland Film Festival and Pan African-Film Festival. She has developed a distinct style that interweaves her unique voice for both film and music with hopes to reach a mass audience through her artistry.